Don’t Kiss Them Good-bye

I tend to read books people physically hand to me and say, “Read this.”

My 102-year old neighbor said he’s getting ready to go visit my dad. My dad passed away just about a year ago now.

He’s 102. I don’t think you can really say, “No, don’t go! You still have time! We can fix you!” He’s ready and he feels it. It’s quite fascinating to talk with him about what’s on “the other side.” He talks about it with such animation and ease, even excitement. I’ve never experienced anything like it.

So he hands me this book (Don’t Kiss Them Good-bye) and says it’s so we can talk to each other after he’s passed on. I’m not sure if he wants to give it to me or to my mother, but I’m taking it as if at least it’s also to me. When a 102-year old man asks you to do something, you pretty much do it.

The book is quite compelling and enchanting. Allison DuBois writes in a friendly, familiar style as if we’re sitting at her kitchen table and she’s telling you about her life. Except that her life seems like it’s out of a movie … in fact, it was. Or at least a TV series called Medium.

It’s no literary masterpiece, but it wasn’t meant to be. She’s just telling it as she sees it.

What I like most about it is that she doesn’t try to convince you of anything (that there is more to us than just the physical us, life after death, etc.). She just knows it’s true because that’s what she sees. She even jokes in the book that she “sees dead people” playing off the famous line from a movie. Except that she really does and she always has.

The book is also interesting to read about a person with such a “gift” and how hard it was growing up with it. She knew she was different, but really didn’t know what to do with her powers or how to handle them. Later in life, she even helps to solve crimes as she can get into the head of the killer–but really into his head and see and feel and know things he sees and feels and knows. Hard to believe, but again, she’s not asking us to believe it, she’s just telling her story.

What I missed was anything along the lines of a How To. I realize that’s not what the book was meant to be, but if Tony gave it to us, I was hoping it might give us some insight into how can connect with him once he’s no longer here. In any case, it’s a fun read and whether you believe it all or not, it’s at least an opening to an entirely different world. One that is intriguing and enchanting.